Purpose and Function

NFC, or "Near Field Communication" technology is a form of wireless communication that allows devices to exchange data. Though unlike Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, NFC compatible devices must be in very close proximity to each other to interact. Because of its versatility, it has been implemented into a wide range of devices, including smartphones, collectibles, gaming systems, and access control solutions.

Approved as an ISO/IEC standard in 2003, NFC is based on RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification), but has an even shorter transmission range. They both rely on the principle of inductive coupling, where devices use a coil to induce an electric current with a magnetic field emitted by a reader. This allows for the wireless transmission.

Application

NFC technology has seen three mainstream modern applications:

• Data Transfer - There are three main supported modes of data transfer.
  • Read/Write - Allows users to read from and write to NFC chips to store information.
  • Card Emulation - Allows an enabled device to become a proxy for more traditional contactless cards.
  • Peer-to-Peer - Allowing two enabled devices to exchange data with one another.
• Access Management - Used to enforce access credentials at worksite or work system entry points via user-held tags. 
• Contactless Payment - Used commonly in smartphones, smartwatches, and contactless payment cards via NFC-enabled payment terminals.